Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04), Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, released the following statement on Russian aircraft provocations against the USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) in the Baltic Sea.

“The Russian regime has shown itself to be a thuggish, authoritarian detriment to the liberty of its own people and the peace and stability of its neighbors. From Georgia to Ukraine to these provocative passes over an American warship in international waters, Moscow has shown itself determined to bring back the days of Cold War tension between the U.S. and Russia. U.S. naval activity in Europe must be expanded accordingly to address the threat posed by Russia’s international behavior.”